Baba Ngelzarma, the national secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, on Sunday, said herders are not as violent as widely believed around Nigeria.

Speaking to reporters during the group’s conference in Abuja, Mr Ngelzarma said ethnic Fulanis have been wrongly labelled as criminals due to the security challenges in the country.

To drive home his argument, the Miyetti Allah leader said Fulani herders chased away from South-East now dominate Kogi forest yet the state has remained one of the most peaceful in the country.

“So this goes to show that not all Fulani are criminals. Therefore, profiling the entire Fulani ethnic group as criminals because of the criminal activities of a few is injustice,” he said.

According to him, pastoralists are not spared by bandits and terrorists as they are also attacked and their livestock rustled.

The Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, who is one of the group’s patrons, urged the gathering to work out strategies towards addressing the challenges bedeviling pastoralists in the country.

Represented by Aminu Sadiq, the Zannan Kano, the emir said “if we don’t voice out our own problems, how will the world know our challenges.”

The meeting was attended by the representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, leaders and members of the association across the country. 

(NAN)